American TikTok user rages over the price of seafood in Australia compared to the US

An American woman living in Australia has criticized the country for how expensive its seafood is, despite the fact that the nation is surrounded by water.

The expat complained on social media that she was craving a lobster roll, or shrimp cocktail or crab cakes, after a hot summer day by the pool.

But he just couldn’t satisfy his many cravings because “lobster is like $60 a pound, it’s ridiculous, and it’s a fucking island.”

It comes as rock lobsters made a killing in the Chinese market, as the country exported nearly $400 million worth of Australian shellfish to China, including crustacean delicacy between 2020 and 2021 (Pictured, lobsters for sale in the Sydney fish market in December last year)

He complained that when he grew up in New England, on the northeast coast of the United States, seafood was “cheap and plentiful.”

“I had shellfish all the time…maybe not very cheap, but it wasn’t like Australian prices,” he said.

TikTokker, who goes by baal.and.chain (pictured), listed his cravings that were at the top of his list that day, including “shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, fritters, and soup.” “But you can’t get it here… lobster is like $60 a pound, it’s ridiculous and it’s a fucking island,” she raged.

“And I just had a day at the pools and it’s hot and I just want a damn lobster roll, or shrimp cocktail, some crab cakes, fritters, and soup.”

Social media commenters quickly corrected his American English and made suggestions for where he should go for great seafood.

‘It’s not prawn cocktail, it’s prawn cocktail,’ said one, while another advised: ‘If you’re in Australia, it’s crawfish, prawns and kilos.’

You have to try the bugs. The Moreton Bay critters are the best. They are like mini lobsters. Trust me,’ said another.

But others suggested that he return to the US if he didn’t get the food he wanted here.

He said that when he grew up in New England, on the northeast coast of the US, seafood was “cheap and plentiful” (a lobster roll in upstate New York, US is pictured).

“I had shellfish all the time…maybe not very cheap, but it wasn’t like Australian prices,” he said (pictured, clams in chowder stock in New York)

‘Well, do you know what you can do?’ one replied, possibly hinting at her coming back to the US after her complaint.

Some online commenters suggested she return to the US if she didn’t get the food she wanted here (pictured TikTokker baal.and.chain)

“We are not America,” another commenter added.

“You think seafood is expensive, try buying a house,” another quipped.

Local seafood importers have had to change tack after trade disruptions blocked supplies from Australia to China, their number one customer.

Australia was producing rock lobsters for export to the tune of $750 million between 2018 and 2019, most of it shipped as live supply to China.

But China’s trade bans on the Australian favorite in 2020 led sellers to target other markets, including Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan and the US.

Since then, seafood exports to China have dipped to just under $400 million between 2020 and 2021, according to Australia’s Seafood Export Outlook 2022.

Seafood importers have had to change tack after trade disruptions have hampered Australia’s supply to its number one customer in China since 2020 (pictured, fresh lobster in Sydney)

“Continued COVID-19 outbreaks and movement restrictions, and uncertainty in the China market have hampered a recovery in rock lobster exports,” the outlook said.

“Exports are unlikely to return to 2018-19 highs until these issues are resolved.”

Matt Rutter of the Geraldton Fishermen’s Cooperative, a rock lobster exporter, said SBS last year its exports have been affected.

“Before COVID, about 95 percent of our product was exported to China,” he said.

But China’s trade bans on the Australian favorite in 2020 led sellers to target other markets, including Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan and the US.